Port city needs neutral admin, says Nawaz

LAHORE – PML-N President Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has said that the PPP and its allies are not sincere in restoring peace in Karachi as the coalition did not make any effort to de-weaponise the city.Talking to a delegation of Sindh politicians, led by former chief minister Liaqat Ali Jatoi in Raiwind on Tuesday, the PML-N president said that the Supreme Court had asked the government to take action against the militant wings of political parties but the rulers had made no headway to carry out the SC orders. He said that killing of the citizens was a matter of great concern for every Pakistani, adding that law and order could only be restored in Karachi through a neutral administration and keeping the police free from political influence. “If people elect us, the restoration of law and order will the top priority of PML-N government and a stern action will be taken against the criminals”, he said, adding ‘no one is above the law.’ He said that peace and law and order will be restored in Karachi with the consultation and cooperation of all segments of the society. Nawaz said that PML-N had formed coalition with the PPP in the interest of the country but the lukewarm response of the government towards the problems of the masses and its failure to keep its promises, made the PML-N part ways with it within weeks. He said that ‘we are only interested in the progress and prosperity of the country and betterment of the masses.’During the meeting, former PPP provincial minister Abdul Hakeem Baloch, Tehrik-e-Insaaf leader Michael Javed, former PPP Jacobabad president Aslam Abru, prominent industrialist Asif Qureshi, former DIG Akbar Bhangwar, Muhammad Saleem Baloch, Riaz Ahmed Baloch and Abdul Ghani Kaloti announced to join the PML-N. Nawaz Sharif welcomed them in the party and said that their joining was a proof of the growing popularity of the party in Sindh. He said that PML-N would field strong candidates in Sindh in the general elections and he would visit Karachi and other parts of Sindh. Separately, PPP AJK President Sardar Khalid Ibrahim called on Nawaz Sharif at his Raiwind residence. During the meeting, Nawaz said that his party will continue to render political, diplomatic and moral support to the people of Kashmir. He asked Indian government to end atrocities on Kashmiri people and grant them the right to self-determination according to the UN resolutions. Pak-India ties cannot be normal unless Kashmir dispute is settled, he added. Appreciating the PML-N Kashmir policy, Sardar Khalid said that it would positively portray the problems of Kashmir at the international level. He assured the PML-N president that in the next elections his party would support Nawaz Sharif.The former premier hoped that in future the PML-N and the AJK PPP alliance would get strengthened and both the parties would jointly work for the progress and development of the AJK. British High Commissioner Adam Thomson also visited Nawaz Sharif with UK Political Consular Susan Highland. The envoy discussed bilateral ties with him.Later, the head of the American power generation company DACC, Douglas Melvin and country head Zafar Ahmad, met Nawaz Sharif. Melvin told Nawaz that his company was going to set up a power generation plant in Cholistan which would not only cut down the loadshedding but also create job opportunities for the locals.

This news was published in The Nation newspaper. Read complete newspaper of 05-Dec-2012 here.